After what County Judge John Hall called a “long, arduous process,” the Crawford County Quorum Court voted on Monday to approve a sales tax that would fund a new $20 million detention center.

The proposed facility would replace the existing 88-bed Crawford County Detention Center in Van Buren. The facility has failed three consecutive state inspections due to overcrowding issues.

Justices of the peace approved ordinances related to a three-quarters of a percent sales tax to fund the facility. Crawford County voters will be asked to consider a half-percent of the tax for the purchase of land and construction costs that would sunset in 10 years and also to consider a permanent quarter-percent to cover ongoing operation and maintenance. The issues will be placed before voters on the ballot in the May 20 primary.

District 11 JP Carrie Jernigan was satisfied with the result.

“I feel like we’ve secured a good ballot title that the public can understand,” Jernigan said. “But we have our work cut out for us with the public being asked to vote on two questions, so we really need to push it.”

District 8 JP James Lane voted against the tax, expressing concern about the lack of clarity on the issue.

“I feel like we are flying by the seat of our pants building this jail,” Lane said after the meeting. “We have no methodology on an actual size that this thing is going to be. I realize we are in a crunch with this, but there really hasn’t been a diligent process to provide some absolute numbers.”

Lane acknowledged that he thought the tax would pass.

“People have a good feeling about the county government, right now,” he said. “The county is in such good shape road-wise, and we have a good county judge, and a good Quorum Court. People don’t really have an ax to grind, so we have the best chance ever for it to pass.”

Sheriff Ron Brown said the new facility would improve public safety.

“This is a matter of public safety,” Brown said. “This administration has done everything we can to remain in compliance, but we’ve outgrown our facility and we’re having to let people go. We’re letting violent people go. This will allow us to hold people responsible.”

Hall also discussed the eight bid proposals the county has received for the location of the jail.

Of the eight proposals, four are on Arkansas 59 in Van Buren, one is on Arkansas 162 in Kibler and three more on U.S. 64. The sites range from 5-15 acres and differ in price.

Hall suggested developing a timeframe feasible to tour the locations. JPs elected to meet within a few weeks and bus out to view each property in order to come to a final decision on location.